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Contains distressing content.
27 Jan 2025

‘Absolutely devastated’: Inside Durham hospice battling £1.3m black hole

Across the UK, hospices are struggling, with many forced to cut staff and services as the sector faces the most challenging time in its history.

UK hospices care for 300,000 people each year. It costs £1.8 billion a year to run them. More than £1.3 billion of this comes from fundraising, which has been hit hard by the cost of living crisis.

And less than half a billion comes from government funding, which hospice bosses say has failed to keep up with inflation.

St Cuthberts Hospice in Durham was forced to make 18 staff redundant last week as it battles a £1.3 million black hole.

Warning: You may find this report upsetting.